File sharing is all possible because of software programs such as BitTorrent Napster and eDonkey, which permit users to download large files quickly. ‘BitTorrent maximizes transfer speed by gathering pieces of the file you want and downloading these pieces simultaneously from people who already have them.’ This means that songs, TV programs and even films can be downloaded in a matter of minutes. With the advent of easily accessible, free home downloads being imprinted into the minds of the British and global population, piracy statistics have grown dramatically over the past few years. In 2001 record companies forced Napster into Bankruptcy after they claimed that users were sharing passwords and accounts to get as many songs as possible from the base payment of £9.95 a month; however the lawsuit was strongly disputed by critics saying that instead of stopping piracy the companies were simply deferring users to other file-sharing sites.
But what impact does this have on the music industry?
Between 1999 and 2003 UK singles sales witnessed a drop of 54%. The music industry claims that much of the decrease is due to piracy and the increase in users of file-sharing sites. According to Big Champagne, Limewire, a site which allows users to easily access pirated music on demand, is shown to have been downloaded on to 20% of all windows desktop PC’s. With British record labels claiming a loss of 650 million pounds due to piracy in the last two years, the claim that file-sharing is having a dramatic effect on the music industries gross profits is becoming harder to discount. TNS claim that due to piracy in the UK, instead of the £1.5 billion turnover the music industry was expected to make between 2002 and 2004, only £858 million was made.
So what’s being done to stop piracy?
According to the telegraph, Lord Mandleson is pushing for tougher punishments for illegal downloader’s. ‘Millions of parents whose teenage children illegally download films and pop songs face having their internet connection cut off and fines of up to £50,000.’
In April 2003 Madonna’s record company posted fake tracks of her then latest album American Life all over file-sharing sites to directly approach users, however the distribution backfired when someone hacked into Madonna’s web page and uploaded the original tracks to her site and made them available for anyone to download.
One problem record company’s face in the fight against piracy, is the fact that they have no legal legislation to acquire any personal details of file-sharing site users. This means that it is nearly impossible to prosecute users without government help, and without any threats of punishment being used as a deterrent, people are not afraid of the consequences that come from using file-sharing sites.
So why not just stop people from accessing file-sharing software?
File-sharing software is not just used by illegal downloader’s. With BitTorrent having over 160 million users worldwide and Napster over 70 million it would be both impossible and implausible to abolish such a popular form of computer software due to the amount of both commercial and private users, the consensus that faster download speeds can improve internet business rates, and the fact that the vast majority of the British public enjoy being able to access music quickly.